The Ultimate Tone offers the technician or hobbyist a wide information base for properly implementing guitar amplifier modifications. Sonic perceptions and stage setups are analyzed to demonstrate how optimal sound can be obtained from existing equipment. A survey of amplifier brands follows, with an eye toward ease of modification and service. Basic vacuum tube operation is clearly presented, as are power supply principles. Preamp circuits and master volumes are explored with a discussion of guitar sustain and interactions, for clean and distorted tones. Power amplifiers are investigated, and power tubes are explored regarding choice of tubes, relative reliabilities of tube types, the relevance of tube matching, and the sonic impact of each tube type. Methods of improving reliability are presented. Tube and solid-state effects loops and reverb loops are investigated, with relative performance issues highlighted.

An extensive discussion of switching methods is presented, a subject which is rarely explored with regard to guitar systems. Channel, reverb, effects, lead boost, mute and speaker switching are explored. Foot-switch controllers with and without LEDS are detailed, with an eye to multiple controllers for larger stages.

Tube data is provided for the seventeen most common types used in guitar amplifiers, with pin-outs for nine less common numbers.

Replacement transformer data is provided for the two Hammond Mfg. model lines which cover most guitar applications.